Lucknow Super Giants

Biography

Kuldeep Yadav is one of the most distinctive wrist-spinners in world cricket, renowned for his deceptive googly, variations and ability to outfox batters. A left-arm wrist-spinner, Kuldeep’s journey to the highest level has been defined by resilience, reinvention and a relentless desire to improve.

He first made his mark with India U19, becoming the first Indian bowler to claim a hat-trick at the 2014 ICC U19 World Cup. His senior international breakthrough came in 2017, when he made his Test debut against Australia and claimed four wickets in the first innings. He soon followed it up with his ODI and T20I debuts, establishing himself as one of India’s most exciting spin talents.

Kuldeep’s rise continued with a memorable 2019, when he became the first Indian bowler to take two ODI hat-tricks. His five-wicket haul against Australia in Sydney earlier that year further underlined his ability to perform on the biggest stage. After a challenging period that saw him lose his place in India’s white-ball teams, Kuldeep reinvented himself, working on his pace, accuracy and variations to make a remarkable comeback.

He was a key part of India’s campaigns at the 2023 ODI World Cup and the 2024 T20 World Cup, playing an important role in India’s title-winning campaign in the latter. His ability to control the middle overs and consistently provide breakthroughs has since made him a mainstay of India’s white-ball setup.

In the IPL, Kuldeep enjoyed a breakthrough season with Delhi Capitals in 2022, claiming 21 wickets in 14 matches. He continued to be an integral part of their bowling attack, including in IPL 2026, when his match-winning 3/29 against Kolkata Knight Riders earned him Player of the Match honours.

Kuldeep was traded in by the Lucknow Super Giants ahead of IPL 2027.

With his unique skill set, evolving variations and ability to deliver in pressure situations, Kuldeep Yadav remains one of India’s most potent spin-bowling weapons and a crucial addition to the LSG squad.